Speaking of spreader calibration, the gate stop on my Herd M-12 slipped two weeks ago, while putting down some 14-0-0 w/Allectus. Unfortunately, I did not notice until I dropped 1.5 bushels of material in a single pass of about 100 feet. Got a nice 15' wide x 100' long brown stripe in my front lawn, now!

Gotta figure out if I can re-seed in August, or if I need to put something down to neutralize what's there, first.

Speaking of spreader calibration, the gate stop on my Herd M-12 slipped two weeks ago, while putting down some 14-0-0 w/Allectus

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Read up on the long term effects of imidacloprid. It is persistent and not good for honey bees at all.

"A high acute risk to honey bees was identified from exposure via dust drift for the seed treatment uses in maize, oilseed **** and cereals. A high acute risk was also identified from exposure via residues in nectar and/or pollen."

PE Alderlea T6 - the gentle giant, Jotul 602“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it.” - Mark Twain -
"A poor worker always blames his tools." - Dad

Hmm... will have to look into that begreen. The target insect is sod worm, which was killing large patches of my lawn when I moved in two years ago, I got nothing against honey bees. Used Mallet in early June last year, but was advised by the distributor to switch to Allectus and delay until end of June this year. I usually stick to what they recommend, but will have to ask more questions when the time comes for my sod worm control, next June.

If there is clover in the lawn I'd be concerned about the uptake and distribution via the clover flower. Bees love clover.

PE Alderlea T6 - the gentle giant, Jotul 602“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it.” - Mark Twain -
"A poor worker always blames his tools." - Dad

I probably had an acre of clover when I moved in, but now it's down to just a square foot scattered here and there. Within another year or two, I'll be 100% free of the stuff.

Lawn control is a war. In every battle, unfortunately, some good men are lost to friendly fire. You can only try to minimize the losses. I will look into finding a more bee-friendly treatment before the next application.

<-- somewhat allergic to yellow jackets, but does okay with a single bee sting

I gave up that battle a long time ago. Lawns out here are brown in the summer anyway, so I don't do anything but mow it in spring and fall.

PE Alderlea T6 - the gentle giant, Jotul 602“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it.” - Mark Twain -
"A poor worker always blames his tools." - Dad

Friend of mine is a grounds keeper here at The Altamont Orchards golf course... Busy job.... I was once connected, worked for SV Moffett, commercial turf Equipment.. I rebuilt and sharpened many bed knife and reel on the big fairway Jac units... I use to love setting the reels after the rebuild to cut a single sheet of paper all the way across... Our smaller place years ago, that's what I cut our lawn with, a push reel mower... Had the best looking lawn on the block... I use to cut it in two different directions during one mow.. Neighbor use to say I need a hole marker flag for the front lawn.. Used a lot of Jerry Baker ideas, soap and water, ammonia and water dilution for instant nitrogen, beer, what ever the lawn needed..Hose end sprayer worked wonders. I was chemical free because of my dogs.. Short lawn made it hard for the weeds to establish themselves... sorry to get off track here

I know what you mean with setting the reels. Kinda like setting greens reels to mow at .120" and watching them leave perfection behind. Even better if I'm in the seat!

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Yes I remember using a gauge bar with a screw in the middle with an integral washer on the head of the screw.. Used that on the toro green's mowers.. I forget how short they were set but wow, .120 is just under an 1/8th inch..

I had a timer for my water,, use to water from 4 am -6am.. Lawn always had a good drink keeping it that short..When I say short, 2 inches.. Yes without a good water program that could certainly happen..Cutting with a reel mower was less stressful on the grass blade as well, cutting like scissors verses a single blade just tearing the top off.. Another reason it stayed good looking while cut short.. All those golf courses would be brown in July,, that's why they use reel mowers...treats the grass good! Plus they aerate the soil as well.

I had a timer for my water,, use to water from 4 am -6am.. Lawn always had a good drink keeping it that short..When I say short, 2 inches.. Yes without a good water program that could certainly happen..

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Ah... watering. I think we're talking about lawns of a vastly different scale, charly! At the recommended 1 inch rainfall per week, during our typical dry spell (late June thru mid-August), I'd be burning thru 100,471 gallons of water per week. That's roughly five typical in-ground pools... per week!

I only know these numbers because I once did look into extending our automatic sprinkler system (gardens) to do the lawn. I was quickly talked out of that idea.

I remember using a gauge bar with a screw in the middle with an integral washer on the head of the screw..​

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We have a similar setup for fairway units but the greens units are set with a similar tool that instead of a button head screw, has a dial indicator installed.

Regarding the grass....

Water is the key. Joful, you're doing it right, cut high (with the right grasses) and weeds don't stand a chance. Charly's approach works too (short height, mow frequently) but you have to have water available or the lawn will go dormant real quick cutting at 2". I usually cut mine 2.75" to 3" (Bluegrass/Ryegrass mix) and don't have to water until it climbs over 90 deg on a consistent basis.

Ah... watering. I think we're talking about lawns of a vastly different scale, charly! At the recommended 1 inch rainfall per week, during our typical dry spell (late June thru mid-August), I'd be burning thru 100,471 gallons of water per week. That's roughly five typical in-ground pools... per week!

I only know these numbers because I once did look into extending our automatic sprinkler system (gardens) to do the lawn. I was quickly talked out of that idea.

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Before we moved out of the city we had metered water where I had this short long... I was watering for 4 hours a day until we got the water bill! Then cut it back to 2... Out here on the farm the only thing that gets watered is the garden, soaker hoses and I just lift the lawn hydrant arm,, all gravity fed from our spring fed pond including the house... People before us had dairy cows and used the same water system and never ran the spring fed pond dry... it's a half acre pond. So the water is free now, no meter and no well pump needed.. Picture shows about half of the pond...